.jpg)
This is such a wonderful time of year! It's the time of year when those of us who costume year 'round in historical, fantasy, cosplay, and whatever suits our fancy, watch those who only costume for Halloween join in the fun. The stores and websites are full of all the spooky, magical, and, my favorite, witchy costumes and decorations.
I joined a collaboration for #historicalhalloween in 2020 and had an amazing time creating the illustration from a 1926 Dennison booklet for a crepe paper costume.
Links provided:
The blog post: http://theperfecttouchvictorian.blogspot.com/2020/10/historical-halloween-2020-and.html
The #historicalhalloween playlist for 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh7KM3rH4ZM&list=PLSKRJ01xNNbm6rOTGpyGlwfkTEPCQN1dh
Sooooo....let's do it again!
Inspired by artists and illustrators on Instagram whose style reflects unique personalities and exceptional creativity.
@wistful.art:
@chloe.z.arts who often creates historically-attired witches:
@roytheart_ who has incredible series for astrological signs and birth month witches:
#whimsicalwitches
Create a costume reflecting your unique personality, passion, talent, interest, or dream. Share your creation on any/all social platforms with the hashtag.
A Whimsical Tea Witch - The Inspiration
I love tea! Black, green, white. All blends. All flavors. I don't know why as it wasn't part of my upbringing but has become an almost ritualistic part of my adult life. My friends and family know of this love and gifts are easy when my name is on their list.
Well, you get the idea! And I also love flavored honey stix.
I'm not an expert. I'm not trained. I'm just a lover of tea and have shared it whenever possible. In 2009 I hosted my first public tea where I also shared my new passion of Victorian costuming. I invited a fun group and presented "Victorian Dressing - From the Inside Out" or "How Did They Wear All That Stuff?!"
I had set the tables with my collection of tea-for-one which is a nested set of teapot and cup. I invited 20 people and knew many didn't know each other. I had 2 sets of 10 designs and part of the fun was to find your tea-mate, the person with the teapot identical to yours, and introduce yourself. We shared food, friendship, and then I gave the presentation from garments I had made shown on an antique dressform named Victoria, and a modern dressform named Vickie.
I've hosted Edwardian and Victorian events and classes in my state and tea and friendship have always been a part of those wonderful times.
In 2011 I began hosting monthly teas at senior living communities in several states where I worked. A collection of beautiful teacups appeared at an estate sale, I brought them home with me, and set out to host my teas. Each month I had a theme: White Teas, Teas and Tiaras, Valentine Tea, Mad Hatter Teas. and sometimes I switched it up a bit and added hot chocolate with lazy snowmen.
But the most popular of my teas were always my Witch's Brew Teas. We had so much fun wearing the witch hats I brought, watching my brew boil and bubble (ginger ale, pineapple juice, and lime jello), enjoying the decorations and treats, and then practicing a few white magic spells to sleep well and throw our troubles away.
Would it surprise you to see that I also costumed for this particular tea? The seniors loved it!
And so did I!
A Whimsical Tea Witch - The Plan
As you have probably already guessed, my #whimsicalwitch will be inspired by my tea passion. And in particular by the tea that has become my everyday tea during these uncertain times - Organic Chamomile with Lavender Tea.
Now it is time to put all these inspirations to paper. I have a binder for each year with tabs for the project and note all my plans, design, patterns, and fabric ideas. I have an envelope to keep swatches and receipts for what I purchase.
I've been eyeing these reproduction historical patterns from Silk and Thimbles on Etsy and this is a perfect time to give this new-to-me pattern line a try. The skirt is the Josephine, a 1916 Skirt, and the blouse is Elvira, a 1916 Waist.
I'm considering using an Out of a Portrait pattern for the hat. I've made this hat before and it has a nice sized brim for the embellishment I'm considering but as of now that design is still in progress.
My Whimsical Tea Witch will, of course, be serving tea and for that it will be necessary to wear a pretty apron to protect the skirt and blouse.
The chamomile with lavender tea is a favorite. Also yellow and purple are favorite colors. This year I have had the A Wicked Witch project in purple and the 1870s Carriage Gown project in pale yellow and fortunately I purchased extra fabric of both colors when they were on sale in case I wanted to create additional items for the pieces of those costumes.
As I work on this project I will see how to best use the fabric I have for the skirt, blouse, and hat.
Once these pieces are finished and the hat embellishment design finalized I will also design the color scheme for the hat.
I have some surprises in store for A Whimsical Tea Witch and will just give you a glimpse but will save that for the final reveal.
Please join costumers everywhere who are creating their unique Whimsical Witch and let me know here or on Instagram @aperfecttouch_jeanette so I can enjoy!!
Hugs!
Jeanette
Companion YouTube video: https://youtu.be/s5nuvcvU78E
No comments:
Post a Comment